Chloe rolled over on her bed and looked out of the window. So much for summer. Yesterday’s great weather had vanished overnight. Today it was overcast and raining.
She looked at the time on her phone: 11.02 a.m. God, she was bored. She’d sent Holly several messages so far this morning and got nothing in reply. If she didn’t hear back soon, she’d phone her. Mind you, Holly hadn’t been feeling well yesterday. Maybe she’d had a bad night and was sleeping it off.
Chloe hadn’t slept well. It had been muggy, even with the window wide open, and she’d woken up loads of times. Now she felt grotty and grumpy. So she’d returned straight to her bedroom after breakfast to veg out. She had at least got dressed, in a fresh pair of shorts and T-shirt, but that was as much down to the heat as anything else. Stupid weather. If it was going to rain, it could at least have the decency to cool down a bit.
Chloe glanced over at the copy of New Moon on her bedside table and thought about picking it up to read a bit. Then she sighed and rolled over again, unable to summon up the energy.
She heard the toilet flush. Soon after came a gentle tap on her bedroom door. It was her mum. ‘Are you sure you don’t want to come, love?’
Chloe shook her head. ‘No, thanks.’
She and Elliot were going to visit the posh school they used to attend. It was two schools back then, apparently – one for boys and one for girls, which sounded weird to Chloe – but these days it was mixed and the girls’ school had been turned into flats. They’d discussed the idea at the barbecue yesterday and, bizarrely, had both got excited at the prospect of going back. Chloe couldn’t ever see herself wanting to revisit her school as an adult.
At breakfast Mum had asked them all along. ‘It’ll be a fun trip out,’ she’d promised. But the three of them had declined.
‘What are your plans for the day?’
Chloe shrugged. ‘Might see Holly later, if she’s feeling better.’
‘What about your other friends? I never hear about anyone apart from Holly these days.’
‘She’s my best friend. What’s your problem with her?’
‘There’s no need to take that surly tone with me, Chloe.’
‘I’m not.’
‘All I’m saying is that it’s good to have a group of friends—’
‘I do, but most of them are away on holiday.’
This wasn’t entirely true and, as soon as she’d said it, Chloe felt bad at the shadow it cast over her mum’s face. The lack of a family vacation this year was a sore point – and it was wrong of her to highlight it.
‘What about Saima?’
‘What about her?’
‘You used to be such good friends.’
‘At primary school. Things change.’
Saima had been her best friend for years, but they’d grown apart since moving to Waterside High, where they’d first met Holly. The three of them were all in the same form, and – unlike Saima – Holly was in most of the same sets as Chloe, meaning they had nearly all their lessons together. Holly had lived a few miles away initially. Then her family had moved to the village, bringing her and Chloe even closer. Eventually, this had led to a row with Saima, who’d felt pushed out, and their friendship had never recovered. These days they barely said hello when they saw each other in school or on the street. Chloe couldn’t remember the last time they’d met up or had a chat.
She hadn’t thought about Saima much at all recently. But after her mum had gone, leaving her home alone with her dad and brother, Chloe found herself wondering more and more about her old friend. What if she was the one behind the nasty texts? This possibility hadn’t occurred to her before now. Of course she’d wondered who was sending them, but she’d been thinking about people she’d had recent run-ins with, while her falling out with Saima had been ages ago. She thought they’d both moved on, but what if Saima hadn’t?
As she was weighing this up, her phone pinged with a message: Holly at last.
H: Morning! Sorry for the slow reply. Mum made me turn my phone off to get some sleep.
C: And? Did it work?
H: Guess so. I only just woke up.
C: Feeling better?
H: So-so. Puked a few times after you left.
C: Really? :-( Guess you’re not up for doing something today then.
H: Don’t think Mum will let me out of her sight or allow me any visitors. She keeps going on about me being contagious. The anti-bacterial spray is basically glued to her hand.
C: Never mind. Hope you feel better soon.
H: Thanks. Hey, have you said anything to Edward yet?
C: Don’t call him that! It’s Elliot.
H: You know who I mean. And?
C: Yes, I caught up with him on the way home yesterday. I asked him some questions and he answered them to my full satisfaction.
H: What the hell does that mean?
C: It means I no longer have any concerns about him. He’s a normal guy.
H: Seriously? So how did he explain everything?
C: Let’s chat about that later. I need to tell you something else.
H: Like what?
C: It’s about the dodgy texts.
H: Have you had any more?
C: One last night. Usual nasty stuff. Called me a ‘skank whore’ this time.
H: That’s horrible.
C: Yeah. Anyway, I think I might have an idea who’s been sending them.
H: Who?
C: Saima.
H: Your dorky friend from primary school?
C: Bit harsh, but yes.
H: How’s it harsh if she’s been sending you those texts?
C: Well, I don’t know for sure, do I? It’s a guess, based on the fact that she has my number and almost certainly hates me. Plus she knows me well enough to press the right buttons: like the thing about the yellow teeth. What do you reckon?
H: You know her loads better than I do. If you think it’s possible, it probably is. What a bitch!
C: What should I do?
H: Confront her? I’d ask her straight out.
C: You’re right. I’ll go to her house today.
H: Do it. Wish I could come with. Give her a slap from me.
C: Haha. Get well soon.
H: Thanks. Good luck. Let me know what happens. X
C: Will do. XO